Its kinda eye opening how similar modern riot police with shields and batons resemble Roman Soldiers.

PULLO FORMATION!!!

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="816">13:36</a> "FIGHT BACK. FIGHT BACK FOOL."

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="638">10:38</a> nice 2 circles and 1 long mushroom lol

There's nothing more Roman than Roman-on-Roman violence.

I couldn't stop laughing at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="821">13:41</a> Very interesting video overall, I don't see reenactors very often fighting as realistic as in this video.

Very good summary. Aligns with all the well thought out fighting tactics I was already somewhat aware of. And completely contradicts the old fashioned Hollywood clanging of swords, and more recent streaming battle scenes of melee twirling and slashing.

Informative AND entertaining! Loved how you guys also implemented some basic boxing principles to the techniques shown and made it look smooth as hell. 💯

Thanks for the informative video, very well detailed. We need more of this.

Wonderful channel, thank you so much miles!

Very well done and thought provoking!

Great video!

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="548">9:08</a> "IT'S FUN TO STAY AT THE, Y, M, C, A...!"

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="572">9:32</a> this is a great formation, there are a few pieces of evidence it was actually used, possibly instead of (or along with) the close order formation shown before

this was such an enjoyable video to watch! thank you guys for making a fun and interesting video showing your actual experiences and insights.

Amazing video, amazing channel, amazing reactment! Great job guys, i'm subscribing wating for more videos! :D

Excellent!

@<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="199">3:19</a> Is that a phallus on his shield xD

Great video, thank you!

Thank you great video

A digging Joke in/to the Start of a Video with Roman Legionaries... funny. I like it! A free Bottle of Garrum for you Guys!

Stary tomjest dobre ! 🎉

that was a really good video and I enjoyed that

Great video

Nice work, Boys.

Greetings from Australia. I really liked the chap with the lance tactics. Looked realistic.

Good job! You mentioned that historical scutum's weight could be less than 8kg, I suppose that's because modern reenactors tend to use tougher (thus heavier) shields to better withstand hits of blunt weapons all day long? But in this case wouldn't heavier shields also be beneficial for soldiers of the past, relying on them with their lives? I guess they had some good reasons to not use overly heavy shields, especially if we consider them marching with those for several hours on some occassions. It would be interesting to see a video about scuta and their use, weight, size, maintenance, transport while on the march, what was historically painted on them, etc, like some sort of scutum all you need to know compendium. On the other hand, probably not too many viewers are into that. Anyway, now the most important part, ROMA INVICTA ROMA AETERNA ROMA CAPVT MVNDI ;)

it might interesting to see how zula warriors used their shields also that were large and the weapon was often a very short stabbing sword. They often fought enemies that used smaller shields and longer throwing spears as the primary weapon.

Great job guys. Overall a very nice video. My only suggestion: try the reverse grip with your pilum. It would be much more convenient to fight with it in tight formation

Very well done! What you have show greatly supports my thoughts on how Romans fought. I've often wondered about how exactly they fought and how tight of ranks they had. My experience is lacking in shield/formations but my experience with longswords tells me your video has very practical and realistic depictions.

This channel is awesome. I've been long reading about the greatest battles of Rome and it was ward to visualize how it would look like, but this video makes it super clear. Now we just have to imagine what you 4 guys did but with 40.000 in each side, swinging blades against an enemy that has fellows less than a meter to his both sides. This is just a suggestion: if you could do something similar with the macedonian phalanx vs the roman legion it would be awesome. I'm unable to figurate how the romans could walk past those walls of sarissas.

im surprised u did not mentioned anything about the handle of the scutum but good video!

Great Video, very interesting. When 2 Roman legions fight each other, I imagine they push shield against shield. With people pushing from behind and from the enemy. With a very low degree of mobility.

It all makes sense, but... I did my reading about Roman legions. So, individual trening was very short, wast majority of the training was group fighting, something like contubernium vs contubernium. Training was focused on cooperation of legionaries, so team play, team play, team play, team play... So, synchronized attacks, like one legionary is attacking face on the enemy warrior, and 2nd legionary at the same time is attacking feet of the same enemy warrior. I don't know details , because training of the recruits was done by experienced veterans who knew what was working and what was not working in the real battle. And we don't have access to the experienced legionary veterans. So, You experiments should explore what team plays are viable.

Great video!! I was wondering about combo attacks, eg fake a head thrust to make them lift their shield and switch to cutting at the side of the body or leg. (The other one I thought of was to counter their shield, which you then did at the end :D) Another one I've learned from training is to attack their hand as they attack -- no hand guard on the gladius as medieval swords had. Maybe that would be possible somehow?

There is an ancient roman fortress near where I live in Switzerland. For over 100 years it was in use, but they had zero combat with enemies during that time, the only battle was against an other legion loyal to a different emperor. So they didn’t fight much at all😅.

Woooow.... This guy <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="588">9:48</a> is the same guy that i saw in Barbarians season 2 in finał battle! How did you guys bring him to your productions!? #<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1070">17:50</a>

❤❤❤

Yes, History repeats itself.

They throw their spears Pilum (plural: Pila) at the enemy. Enemies turn to run and the pila strike them from behind. This creates wounds called piles. Then they use their shields (scutum) and the enemy scoots away. Finally they catch the remaining enemies, point their swords (gladius) at them and force them to fight to death as gladiators.

I saw a theory somewhere - backed up by some Roman-era art, frescos, etc. - that left-handed legionaries were prized and purposely recruited. The reason being that the lefties could be put in the far-right file of troops at the end of the formation with their shields pointing outwards to protect the otherwise exposed right flank. I don't remember where I saw it exactly, but there was a ton of evidence of lefties handling the gladius in a line with their shields in their right hands shown in the contemporary image, and some further images of the Greek Phalanx also showing lefty hoplites possibly in line as well. It was hardly sure evidence, but it certainly makes sense from a military/professional perspective. Imagine how much better your formation would feel if they knew there was a specialized flank protection of lefties fighting southpaw against the enemy's preferred style and at the Century's most vulnerable point.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="656">10:56</a> Wouldn't it make sense to raise your shield above you as you strike in that scenario?

My theory is that all the film nerds who became directors only ever got in middle school scraps as far as hand to hand goes. Strictly coordinated movement and hours long shoving matches and skirmishes seem to be too hard to convey on screen

great job guys ! THUMBS UP ! from Poland with LOVE !

You need more legionaires in your cohort

you look great, where did you get the armor?

Czym kierujecie się przy wykonywaniu broni? W sensie wykonujecie je na podstawie znalezisk? Chodzi mi o rozmiar?

You look like from a gladiator 2.0 🔥

perhaps they might have bent their front knees slightly to push/lock the shields along with hunched shoulders which might prevent self inflicted foot injuries as shown in clip (side stepping is great until.. might end up difficult for sword hand to bring front for hacking). Btw which also lowering center of gravity probably help better footing on different terrains. Just.. what I might have chose to do as stance.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="293">4:53</a> Putting the left foot bent inwards is wrong, because it leads to injuries. And if your opponent goes to the lower target (and I doubt he would, with the sword!), you don't lower the shield, because it would expose your face, but simply remove the target, pulling back the foot behind the shield

Awesome! @ <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="160">2:40</a> The main issue with this interpretation is that period authors often make it explicit that the rear ranks cannot support the frank ranks (Polybius comes to mind). That necessarily includes rotation of ranks. So while there are plenty of descriptions of rotation of lines (something that was done in 18th and 19th-century warfare as well), there aren't any clear descriptions of ranks rotating--at least, none that I know of.

The thrust and then slash tactic makes sense from a boxing perspective. The thrust (stab) is a jab which is used to guage distance for a cross or slash. However, with weaker opponents a jab (stab) can take out an enemy quickly for very minimal effort.

Awesome job, thank you! I wonder what conclusions you could draw from having a chance to experiment with larger groups in tight formations rather than 1 on 1 duels. Great job at trying to practice with 2-3 people in line, I’m sure it added to the experience. Another thought that’s been on my mind for years now: romans decided to switch to large shields and short swords when the whole world fought with spears. I know of about the Samnites and the hilly terrain etc. but I always believed there’s more to that as they never switched back to spears after. Not for centuries anyway. I personally believe romans were fighting by pushing in deep past the spears into extremely close (it might’ve even been so close puggio was a better option, than gladius) proximity disrupting enemy lines, then letting second line to mop up and by second line I mean second century in the maniple or even sometimes second line of maniples, which also explains how the maniple swap worked. But that’s just my theory. The truth is we’ll never know.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="632">10:32</a> Yo, why you gotta do the man's shield dirty like that?

your presentations are excellent very realistic the Roman Legionary was a formidable based strong discipline unit flexibility but not so their cavalry which was a farce they had to rely on subject peoples such as GAULS SPANIARDS NUMIDIANS well was Rome able to survive it would not have survived Alexander

I'm more interested how this will be used practically in a battle. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="153">2:33</a> Must be very sophisticated to pull it off

Thumbnail I see: Lepidus trooos vs Octavian troops

I heard Roman’s were trained to aim for the throat during combat, Oversimplified made it a running joke in his Roman Videos 😂😂😂

honestly, I don't think you can get a good idea of how to use Roman equipment until you get two teams of twenty crashing against each other in formation. I'd arrange them in two lines of ten, with the back row tasked with protecting the top of the front row. In the end, I think it would look a lot like American football, with the battle becoming more of a shoving match with occasional stabs trying to find exposed targets between shields. Swinging a sword in this would likely be rare.

Actually, hobnails reduced wear on the soles of the shoes. This made your shoes last longer.

I think the closest representation of the ancient Roman legion that we can see today is the modern-day riot police. I think in the heat of battle and in the chaos, you just don't have so much time to protect and guard yourself. Most of the defense would have come from shield and helmet. I think the video makes a good depiction of the use of the helmet, as I imagine trying to kill an enemy with a big frontal shield will require trying to reach him from above.

biomechanics are biomechanics / physics are physics. This is probably exactly how they fought.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="804">13:24</a> I spy the oldest image in the history of Graphiti.

I watched a lecture years ago from a guy who taught at West Point discussing how warriors in ancient warfare may not have suffered as badly as modern soldiers have from PTSD due to the trauma of combat. I have been looking for it for weeks to no avail, as I can't remember his name. Essentially the theory boiled down to purification rituals. In Ancient Greek warfare for example, before hoplites would be allowed back into a city, they had to undergo a purification performed by a priest of a god, Apollo for example, in order to cleanse the symbolic blood from them. 'Blood Guilt', it was called. This could be incurred from murder or from coming into contact with impure things. Spartans avoided this blood guilt for example by leaving unwanted babies to death exposure, rather than killing them personally. Anyway, in the case of soldiers, they could then return to society with the knowledge that they had done good, and the act of killing was effectively removed from them. He argued that this may have alleviated some of the deep seated feeling of remorse or trauma on the soldier's mind after bloodshed. Conversely, he said that this is absent in modern soldiers, where for example in the Vietnam war, soldiers returned home and were vilified for their actions. There was no purification, so the feelings of remorse remained. Rather than being absolved in some way, they were instead left with the act on their hands. Modern soldiers also do not fight for gods, or higher powers. They fight for political ideals and borders. It was a lot more in-depth in the lecture but I've paraphrased it. I would argue that Romans perhaps had similar ideals to the Greeks, as well as the diverse system of beliefs throughout the empire.

I think a lot of fighting would have been done closer in (mass combat instead of duel )as for taken on the foe on the right ,the same was said to be used against Jacobite warriors at Culloden,this would only work if adverseries were lined up in neat straight lines and kept to them (utter nonsense,chaos of combat )

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="153">2:33</a> What is the evidence for "synchronised" exchange of ranks? There is none I am aware of at combat distance, and it is meaningless outside of combat distance...

Absolutly love it, pretty mutch how id imagine it, one caviat tho. Polibyous disagrees, as far as i know hes the only source that goes into detail on the formation of the romas: (30) "Now in the case of the Romans also each soldier with his arms occupies a space of •three feet in breadth, 7 but as in their mode of fighting each man must move separately, as he has to cover his person with his long shield, turning to meet each expected blow, and as he uses his sword both for cutting and thrusting it is obvious that a looser order is required, 8 and each man must be at a distance of at least three feet from the man next him in the same rank and those in front of and behind him, p153 if they are to be of proper use. 9 The consequence will be that one Roman must stand opposite two men in the first rank of the phalanx, so that he has to face and encounter ten pikes, ..." going by him you need to remove every second man in your formation to be of "proper use". Have you tried this? What is your opinion on this? Your formation does seem quite usible to me, but polibious is quite clear and a military man, so one shouldnt dismiss him. I Really wonder how your formation would hold up against the one polibious describes.

How romans did fight: Not like on the picture in title😂

A pilum is not designed for the rigid structure needed for effective slashing or hacking in melee combat like a sword. Using it as such would likely cause the shank to bend, break or become detached from the shaft fairly quickly, rendering it ineffective as a melee weapon.

If the equipment is historically accurate the guys are far more tal than the average roman legionary. To more accurately transcribe the combat techniques of the Romans it would be necessary to enlarge the shields by at least 10 inches. Because with a shield on the correct scal, no need to choose between protecting your feet or your face

also I think Romans were shorter than modern Italians So the Shield probably covered them better

The scutum and gladius were used as a SYSTEM

...and the dagger?

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="646">10:46</a> he has a sizeable meat sword on the inside of his scutum

I truely believe, in my heart of hearts, The Romans painted or Japaned their armor and helmets. It's just too much rust not to.

the roman leigons also fought largely other nations forces, meaning their equipment and weaspons often varried strongly from the romans.. it seems thats when they often shined the best.. then the whole world started copying the roman millitary and gear/weps etc

Haha.... an "authentic" Roman phallus @<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="638">10:38</a>.

lol!!! i've be the worst legionar ever i'm left handed and i'm sure that i could never be able, not even imagine myself to throw a pilum or fight with the sword with my clumsy right hand..🙈🙈😝

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="169">2:49</a> "Who were physically and psychologically were not so different from you and me." Must disagree here. They were _much_ more used to physical labor, experienced death, blood, injury, etc on a _regular_ basis from childhood, etc. Definitely no vegans in the Legions.

Thirteen !!! Thirteen !!!

Any other romance lenguage speaker out there still use the Word contubernio???

Nice video. They often fought enemies armed with Spears, which Is almost imposible to close on to be able to score any hit on them. Thus i personaly think they fought very defensively And used slings And javelins From second line of formation to kill or waiting until they were able to overpower the oponents by numbers. Gladius were JUST there to prevent enemies to close on them since Its simply too short to reach someone with Spear And you can't go forward until enemy line Is Broken, otherwise you Will be stabed by someone From side.

Easiest way to find out is give a modern soldier a gladius. They will naturally show what a trained soldier would do

I think almost all of the adversaries of the Romans, except for horse archers and other Romans, used spears.

a shield is not a defensive tool. a shield is a weapon.

I can help noticing how exposed you arms and hands are. That must have been addressed somehow in historical times.

I don’t think they would spin the spear around like that during combat. Waste of energy. Good way to not win. At the <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="113">1:53</a> mark.

The demonstration use a Roman soldier's equipment against another Roman soldier's. lt's a bad idea, unless in a civil war. This does not show the advantage of a Roman soldier's equipment while against enemies. Ex : Should demonstrate the long Roman shield and round Gremanic shield while fighting which one take advantage on the rivals.

Sorry but they would fight as a team. So if it was three against one. They would hold the line while all available would assist his battle buddy.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="818">13:38</a> he is very dead.

"Psychologicalli and physically same as you and me" - Well, I'm gonna stop you there, boy. Do you walk 10-20 km every day? Do you train several hours every day? Do you eat absolutely pure food, without chemicals? Do you cut wood to get yourself and your family warm? Do you, in times of peace, work in field MANUALLY? Did you ever kill? Do you have guys to actually kill a person, STABBING him and seeing how he dies slowly, while your enemies and your own soldiers walk over the wounded? Are you ready to die for your country? Is the honour more valuable than life to you? Would you rather die than run for your life? The answer to ALL questions above is no. We sit in cars, in offices, at home. We train for 6 hours per week at best. We drive, not walk. We push a button to turn on heat. We don't kill people. We don't even kill animals. We value ourselves way more and in case of war pack our shit and get out of the war zone at the lightspeed. No, we're not the same as professional Roman soldier who served for 23 (!!!) years.

did romans "teabag" their opponents when they won a battle?

Stop lying in such videos. The Lorica Segmentata was in use only for a super short period and replaced pretty quickly again by chainmaille 🙄

First of all, they are called Legionaries. NOT legionaires. Those guys are French. Next. There are many surviving Roman descriptions of training and combat. Follow the instructions.

Yikes!

Romanii ite domus

Yeah, romes riot police...

This video is crap. Legionairs never ever used their swords to dig. The rest you hand in info simply is not informing at all, let stand fully correct either. The formation examples and fighting...simply did not go like that. This is...needing updates on nearly every sentence you speak.

They fought like girls.

Excellent video!